About the Operational Stress Injury Clinic
The Royal’s Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Clinic is part of a national network of OSI clinics funded by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). We provide specialized mental health services for people living with psychological injuries related to service in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Referrals must be made through VAC, RCMP or the CAF.
What is an OSI?
An operational stress injury (OSI is a persistent psychological difficulty resulting from service-related duties. It is not a medical diagnosis. It’s a broad term that includes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression and other challenges that affect daily functioning. OSIs may develop after trauma, grief, operational fatigue or ongoing exposure to high-stress environments.
PTSD is one of the most common OSIs. Symptoms may begin soon after a traumatic event or appear years later. They may include:
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks
- Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
- Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected
- Hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response
While short-term distress is common after trauma, persistent symptoms may require treatment. Early intervention can improve recovery.
Services offered
The Royal’s OSI Clinics in Ottawa, Kingston, and Arnprior offer:
- Comprehensive OSI assessment
- Individual and group treatment
- Medication consultation and treatment review
- Education and support for military members, veterans, families and care providers
Referrals
The OSI Clinic does not accept self-referrals. Referrals must come through Veterans Affairs Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- CAF members: Contact your Base Medical Officer or social worker.
- RCMP members: Contact your Divisional Health Services Officer.
- Veterans or retired RCMP: Contact Veterans Affairs Canada at +1 (866) 522-2122 (English) or +1 (866) 522-2022 (French).
After a referral is made, we conduct a comprehensive assessment. The clinical team will recommend a treatment plan, which may involve care at the OSI Clinic or another appropriate service.
If you have questions about our offerings or the referral process, contact the OSI clinic at (613) 722-6521 ext. 6270.
OSI Connect
OSI Connect is a free mental health and self-management app developed by The Royal and VAC to build understanding of OSIs and connect people to the OSI Clinic Network. The app has self-assessments, recovery stories, self-care strategies and resources for healthcare providers and families.
Resource for Caregivers
We have collaborated with VAC and Military Family Services to create a set of educational and self-care tools for those supporting someone with an operational stress injury. This resource page is intended to provide OSI education and self-care tools to support individuals in a caregiver role.
Treatment made possible by research
Learn how our teams are connecting research and treatment to advance knowledge and improve outcomes.
